Thank you all for coming out today to vote in the elections. We had close to 300 votes. Here is the outcome of the elections:
Moderators' Note: printed with Mr. Colessides' permission.
HOT OFF THE PRESS!!!
Dear Parishioners,
And just to add to the great news of today, the UNITY GROUP has achieved a great legal triumph with today’s decision as entered by Judge Howard. See the judge's decision here.
The decision impacts directly and is adverse to the Denver Metropolitan’s letter of 02/23/12.
The Court recognized our rights to be involved as a corporate entity, and to determine our own destiny.
Please tell the Metropolitan to stick to religious issues, and let us alone to be engaged in the governance we deserve.
Once again we can be free of outside interference.
Let us reiterate our request; we need to remove from our parish both Fr. Kouremetis and Fr. Gilbert. Let us be resolute about our goals, when any one of us speaks to the Archdiocese in New York and the Holy Eparchial Synod.
This is going to be a great weekend! We are going to have some great elections! A great way to start Lent.
The heartfelt thanks of the Unity Group to ALL of our parishioners who have struggled for two and a half years, and that stayed the course, for this ultimate great victory.
Best regards,
Nick Colessides
Moderators' Note: printed with Mr. Colessides' permission.
THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION.
IT ONLY REFLECTS MY OWN POINT OF YOU.
Please feel free to distribute as widely as possible.
February 24, 2012
Dear Parishioners,
Conflicting and incongruous statements seem to continuously flow from the Denver Metropolitan.
If what he is saying in his latest missive [dated February 23, 2012] is correct, he should follow the Archbishop’s directive to rescind and discard the “Prophet Elias Corporation” from the records of the Utah Division of Corporations.
It is indeed unthinkable for him to recognize the status of the “2010 corporate entity” that he ordered created, and to disregard the legal status of a one hundred seven (107) year institution, lawfully and continuously existing in our state.
The Denver Metropolitan is creating serious IRS problems for the contributors to our religious corporation as a legal entity.
Our parish’s participation in the Denver Metropolitan’s directives, is as voluntary as a Confession during the Spanish Inquisition.
Best regards,
Nick J. Colessides
P. S. This Sunday, please come, one and all to vote at the elections. If you were a member during 2011, or the last three (3) calendar years, you do not need to otherwise qualify to vote. If not please file and submit the most recently mailed stewardship form, and pledge whatever your conscience dictates. I did it about two weeks ago, and I pledged $25.00 for the year. All of us shall come to the financial aid of our parish immediately upon the removal of the appointed clergy. That is the leverage we have and we should all collectively exercise.
=======================================
Nick J. Colessides
466 South 400 East, Suite 100
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111-3325
Moderators' Note: the original of this letter may be viewed HERE.
+ GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF DENVER
February 23, 2012
Rev. Michael Kouremetis,
Rev. Matthew Gilbert,
Mr. Phillip Floor, Council President
The Esteemed Parish Council
The Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake City
Holy Trinity Cathedral – Prophet Elias Church
c/o 279 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Beloved in the Lord,
I am in receipt of your letter informing me that the fifteen parishioners who accepted to be on the Interim Parish Council for 2012 have taken the Affirmation of Office as prescribed by our Archdiocese Regulations and are now working as one entity for the growth and progress of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Salt Lake City area.
I hereby accept the fifteen parishioners as members of the canonical parish council of the Greek Orthodox community and parish for the year 2012, as provided by Article 26, Section 5 of the Uniform Parish Regulations.
As I mentioned in my letter to you dated January 12, 2012, the Parish Council is to facilitate the continuity of all parish ministries for the good of the members. It shall also prepare to have canonical parish council elections as soon as it is practical.
Having received word from your president, Mr. Phillip Floor, that by consensus you believe that a general assembly for proper parish council elections should be held soon after the Great Fast and the glorious Paschal celebrations, I accept the date of Sunday, April 29, 2012 which you have proposed to me, as practical for such an assembly.
Information has come to me that a group calling itself the Greek Orthodox Church of Great Salt Lake has proposed elections for its “CORPORATION” in the near future. Clearly, this has nothing to do with you and your parish, since the Church is not a “corporation” but a cell in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, which is under the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It is obvious that attempting to reduce the Body of Christ, which has existed for nearly 2,000 years, to the status of a modern secular organization is absurdity.
I express my complete confidence in all fifteen members of the parish council to work together as sons and daughters of our loving God, Who established His Church in the world for the salvation of His people.
With paternal blessings,
/s/
+ Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver
VOTE FOR UP TO 15.
Angelides, Nick
Colessides, Gus
Fuskandrakis, Jim
Gamvroulas, Steve
Kapos, Georgette
Kastanis, Jim
Kithas, Phillip
Mares, Alicia
Markogianis, George
Mastakas, John
McGrath, Tom
Melissas, George
Peters, Tom
Sakellariou, Sakis
Sifantonakis, Jim (Dimitri)
Teseros, Nick
Tsagaris, Dimitrios
Yengich, Connie Kandas
Zarkos, Jim
As nearly all parishioners are aware, a Special General Assembly for the CORPORATION of the "Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake" took place on January 29, 2012. The reason for this lawfully noticed assembly was simple and clear.
Due to the ongoing absence of regular general assemblies and also a continuing denial of free and fair elections in the Community, as detailed in the Uniform Parish Regulations that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in the United States, AND, the Metropolis of Denver, claims to adhere to, 309 members met January 29, 2012 in order to set up processes to hold corporate elections.
The elections will be held February 26, 2012 following the liturgy and ending at 3 p.m. at both churches.
Some would ask for a postponement of those elections in order to give our newly appointed interim parish council time to work out a solution in order to bring about a date for a sanctioned general assembly, followed by free and fair elections.
Regular assemblies and free and fair elections are what we all want and have tried for so long to attain. In the meantime, the corporate elections are by not any means designed to undermine the efforts of the interim Parish Council.
On the contrary, those who care for the unity and progress of our beloved community wish them success - and soon!
The elections on February 26, 2012 will take place, and the elected corporate officers will need some time to proceed with their duties given that we are entering the Lenten period, with hope and faith in the RESURRECTION, also, for this community's resurrection!
No individual has the authority to postpone or cancel the Feb. 26 election from occurring, unless another Special General Assembly is held and authorizes such an extension. Unfortunately the time for such an assembly, due to the 10-day advance notice requirement, has expired.
If, in the meantime, our interim PC announces a General Assembly, to be followed by free and fair elections; and if, those elections take place in a timely manner; then, the elected corporate officers from the Feb 26, 2012 election can ask the community for a new directive. (The directors may also stand for election to the Parish Council.) The corporation can further send another 10-day notice, and a directive can be received, perhaps even before the newly elected Parish Council is sworn in.
We have faith in the community's wisdom. Given proper assurances, the community would not have two boards in competition with each other. However, having waited - once again - for a reasonable response, and, once again, having received NONE, the elections MUST take place. The preferred decision-making board would of course have been a properly elected Parish Council such as existed prior to the improper clerical and hierarchical interferences prevalent in the past few years.
We continue to hope that the efforts of the current interim parish council will bring forth sanctioned elections in a timely manner are successful. In the meantime, we must ensure that there are no more unreasonable delays by any group or party.
This community has waited too long and has deserved better from its recent leaders - in and out of this community.
As per the directive of the Special General Assembly on January 29, 2012, elections for
15 directors of the
Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake, a Utah nonprofit corporation,
From: parishcouncil@gocslc.org
Sent: 2/4/2012 2:59:19 P.M. Mountain Standard Time
Subj: Interim Parish Council
February 4, 2012
Dear Parishioners,
We, the undersigned, have been asked by His Eminence, Metropolitan Isaiah, to form an interim parish council to help our community move forward in peace and harmony with a spirit of Christian forgiveness.
We have taken the oath of office and elected officers. Our first meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 6th, at 7:00 pm in the Prophet Elias boardroom.
As directed by the Metropolitan one of our primary tasks, and our first priority, is to schedule a Parish Assembly and subsequent elections for a new elected parish council. We are aware of the doubts many people may have of another appointed parish council. We want to assure you our time will be short while we help reclaim the vibrancy that once was and shall, with the help of all of you, be again in our community.
Through your commitment to our wonderful Orthodox Church we ask for your support to help us revitalize our parish.
Me agape,
Phillip Floor, President
John Johnson
Margaret Kireiev
Nicole Mouskondis, Secretary
Jim Mylonakis, Vice President
George Pappas
Ted Sargetakis, Treasurer
Pete Sefakis, Assistant Treasurer
Demetrios Skedros
Harry Souvall
Elaine Zambos
On February 4, 2012 we were the recipients of an email from yet another new interim parish council that was formed "to move forward". It was signed by the new president "me agape".
For history's sake let's see the selections of Fr. Kouremetis.
Mr. Randy Bathemess (did not accept)
Dr. Charles Beck (one of the signatories of the illegal and secret PE corporation and a splitting advocate)
Mr. Harry Hillas (splitting advocate)
Mrs. Margaret Kireiev (splitting advocate and clergy's wife, any conflict of interest here?)
Mr. Jim Mylonakis (yes man to Fr. Kouremetis)
Mr.Jim Priskos (splitting advocate)
Mr. Joe Sasich (splitting advocate, host of the last secret meeting)
Mr. Bruce Shand (one of the signatories of the illegal and secret PE corporation and a splitting advocate)
Ms. Elaine Zambos (clergy knows best)
Mr. Phillip Floor (splitting advocate)
All these picks by Fr. Kouremetis, to promote Unity!?
Now we know that Beck-Hillas-Priskos-Sasich-Shand were not allowed to join the interim parish council because they did not go to take the oath at Holy Trinity! Mrs. Kireiev did not go either, so why was she allowed to join?
Someone will wonder why these gentlemen (some of them were seen in the parking lot of H.T) did not go as they were told by the metropolitan? Who instructed them to do so? Maybe Fr.Kouremetis? He was not here he stayed in Denver so he can have an alibi. Every time we have something major done to our community (split the Philoptochos for instance), Fr. Kouremetis is always out of town. A mere coincidence? Not really; more of a game plan.The master of "I don't know anything, I was out of town."
Why was the metropolitan was so hard on them? After all these people met with him last time he visited Salt Lake. is this another trick from Denver? I believe so.
"As directed by the Metropolitan one of our primary tasks, and our first priority, is to schedule a Parish Assembly and subsequent elections for a new elected parish council".
Please BEWARE of what he wishes for and how he goes about it.
The metropolitan, let's not forget, has been soundly defeated in two attempts.
